Monday, July 20, 2009

I got this recipe from Fitness Magazine a while back and I absolutely LOVE it!!! I'm a vegetarian, so it's my version of a 1 dish meal =o) (oh, and I tend to like using extra green beans, because they're my favorite!)

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add potatoes; cook about 15 minutes or until almost tender. Add beans; cook about 3 minutes, or until tender. Drain well.

2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic; cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add potatoes, beans, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook about 2 minutes or until heated through, tossing to coat. Add basil and toss once more before serving.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Ok Blog Hop… This isn't an easy one for me!! I mean obviously if you're just hopping through, I can say any three things and you wouldn't know the difference, but for others who potentially read this at least occasionally… well… what do you not know? So I'm writing this strictly for the unknown. For people who want to get to know me in three easy steps.

I am originally from the suburbs of Chicago. I lived in a small-for-Chicago town called Westchester, and the house I grew up in was about 5 blocks(ish) from where Al Capone was buried. I moved to TN in September of 2004 because I felt that it was what God was calling me to do with my life. It's been a ride so far, and I can't wait to see what God has in store for my future

I'm a banker. I can open accounts, work teller-row, do all things back office. There's a lovely little term called nepotism that got me a job in banking when I was 16 (almost 17) and except for about a year and a half just after I moved to TN, that's what I've been doing with my life ever since. It's amazing to me that I've had 10 years in the same field and I only recently celebrated the 4th anniversary of my 25th birthday! I'm not always content in this because what I want more than anything is for God's timing to be now when he lets me meet the man of my heart and get married. I want to be a mom. But I'm pretty sure I've mentioned this pretty recently…

When people ask me how I'm doing, I always answer, "I'm livin' the dream!" It all started out kind of as a joke when I was having a bad day. I really believe in using reverse psychology on myself (i.e. when I'm in a bad mood I make myself act chipper, when I'm feeling self conscious I make myself look people in the eye). So when I started saying that I was 'livin the dream' it was to convince myself that the day wasn't as awful as I was making it out to be. Now it's become kind of a staple for an answer for me. People just got such a kick out of it that I kept it going. But I realized there was even more. I am living the dream. I have my health, my family, friends… and most importantly, I have God in my life!! It is a dream indeed…

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

This week I've had a hard time driving. My eyes have been watery and itchy and swollen… my BF was in town for the weekend and I had her drive my car to lunch on Sunday because I didn't think I could see well enough to get us there!

I have allergies. And worse than that, I wore contacts this weekend. And even worse I didn't use my allergy eye drops before putting in my contacts or take any allergy medication. In the winter, contacts are fine. They don't bother me and I have no troubles with them, but in the summer? I should know better…

So on Monday morning while I was driving my 26-mile-each-way drive to work… it was rough. I was squinting and uncertain, and my eyes just HURT. I prayed for the entirety of my drive, just begging God to get me to work safely. And He did. He's gotten me to and from work all week (my eyes are improving, but they're still sensitive to the light). But the whole situation; me don't doing what I should have to take care of my eyes, not being able to see, God protecting me; it got me thinking about a few things…

"How many seasons do we spend with our vision blurred to our sin?"

How often do we meander through life able to point out specks of problems in others lives when our eyes are blaringly red due to all of the irritation of sin in our own?

How often do we spend time begging God to get us safely through our lives when we are struggling with our sin?

And He does.

How blessed are we to have a heavenly Father who loves us even through our disobedience.